The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal Tuesday upheld the prison sentences of 14 foreign nationals convicted for dealing in petroleum products in Nigeria without lawful authority.

A judge of the appellate court, Garba Haruna, dismissed the appeal filed by the convicts’ lawyer, Babajide Koku, in appeal number CA/L/909C/2016 to CA/L/909CO/2016 and also ordered the forfeiture of the vessel, MT Anuket Emerald, loaded with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

The convicts, identified as citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Philippines, and Japan, had been arraigned before Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court alongside their vessel and two companies – Monjasa DMCC and Glencore Energy UK Limited before Mr. Buba.

Their names, as listed on the charge sheet, are:

Artur Pakhladzhian,

Sergo Abbgarian,

Vasily Shkundich,

Vitaliy Bilours,

Hlarion Regipor,

Laguta Oleksiy and

Cadavis Gerarado.

Others are:

Kretov Andry,

Badurian Benjamin,

Chepikov Olksan,

Naranjo Antero,

Patro Christian,

Alcayde Joel and

Caratiquit Beyan.

The prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the men were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Nigerian Navy who on March 27, 2015, intercepted them with their vessel loaded with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

The foreigners were equally said to have been found in unlawful possession of 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil as well as 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil.

In his judgment, Justice Buba said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubts, adding that he had no difficulty in convicting them on all the five counts preferred against them.